Norfolk columnist bashes anti-dooring law

A state legislator from Fairfax, Sen. Chap Petersen (D), has a bill pending to remedy this oversight. For this he was roundly trashed Sunday by Virginian-Pilot columnist Kerry Dougherty

The bill reads, in part

No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side adjacent to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so. Nor shall the person keep the vehicle door open for longer than is reasonably necessary to load or unload passengers.

A VIOLATION of this section shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no more than $100..."

Dougherty goes after it, without really understanding it.

Meet SB736, brought to us by Sen. Chap Petersen of Fairfax, which is dubbed "Opening and closing motor vehicle doors."

What do you suppose Jefferson would have to say about such inanity?

"OMD, you guys invented motor vehicles! In which seat do you rape your slaves?"

Supposing what people who have been dead for almost 200 years would think about legislation probably isn't the best standard, but I suspect that any wise legislator would be for laws that protect citizens from the carelessness of others.

The title alone justifies a "no" vote.

I guess you can judge a book by its cover (or a bill by its title)

Does anyone seriously believe we need this law?

Yes. Perhaps you should talk to some of them.

Does any sane Virginian believe that larding this onto the already bloated state code will do one thing to prevent drivers from unsafely opening their car doors into traffic?

Probably. There's always someone on the margin, right. But if you don't think that passing laws changes behavior then why have laws at all? I would note that 45 other states have a similar law on the books. If it's insane, then most of the country has gone crazy.

"I've read through much of what passes for important legislative initiatives on this session's docket and may have stumbled on the one bill that epitomizes all that's wrong with Richmond."

#whatisthisIdonteven

THIS is the epitome of bad legislation? I don't think "wrong" means what you think it means, lady, and I seriously doubt you've read ANY of the pending legislation if this is the example you're going to go with.

Can you list out the five states besides Virginia without a dooring law. I surveyed American dooring laws and can't find it on the books for ten states. Besides Virginia, they are Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, so if anybody knows different for those states I'd love to hear about it.